Airbag-equipped steering wheel device

Abstract

In an airbag-equipped steering wheel, a plurality of horn switch mechanisms assembled to a bag holder each have a securing pin, which is inserted into a corresponding one of through holes formed in a metal core. A clip is engaged with a locking groove of each securing pin, so that each horn switch mechanism is fastened to the metal core. The through holes include one or more normal through holes that restrict inclination of the corresponding securing pins, and a special through hole that has an inclination permitting portion. The inclination permitting portion permits the corresponding securing pin to be inclined about the corresponding clip 13 serving as a fulcrum. In the special through hole, the securing pin is permitted to be inclined about the clip serving as a fulcrum only when the clips are disengaged from the securing pin in all the normal through holes.

1. An airbag-equipped steering wheel comprising an airbag device and a metal core, the airbag device having a pad portion, an airbag, an inflator and a bag holder, and being configured by assembling the pad portion, the airbag, and the inflator to the bag holder, the airbag device being attached to the metal core via horn switch mechanisms activating a horn device,
 wherein each horn switch mechanism includes: 
 a coil spring that urges substantially upwardly the bag holder away from the metal core; 
 a movable contact portion that moves together with the bag holder; 
 an elastic member located below a through hole formed in the metal core; 
 a support member inserted in the through hole and made of metal, the support member being engaged with the metal core via the elastic member and passing through the bag holder so that the bag holder is supported to move substantially in an up-down direction with respect to the metal core, the support member having a pressure receiving portion above the bag holder, the pressure receiving portion receiving an upward urging force of the coil spring, and a fixed contact portion being provided at an upper end surface of the support member; and 
 a resin member disposed between a wall surface of the through hole and the support member, the resin member includes an annular portion that functions as a pressure receiving portion, the pressure receiving portion of the resin member arranged to receive a downward urging force due to the coil spring, 
 wherein the horn device activates by moving the movable contact portion downward together with the bag holder to bring the movable contact portion into contact with the fixed contact portion to be in a conductive state. 
 
     
     
       2. The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the support member is locked to the metal core by the elastic member with the resin member attached to the support member and the support member inserted into the through hole. 
 
     
     
       3. The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein, the elastic member is made of metal, wherein the support member has an outer side surface provided with a recess, and wherein a part of the elastic member and a part of the resin member enter the recess. 
 
     
     
       4. The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein, the resin member enters a position higher than the elastic member in the recess and has a second pressure receiving portion, and wherein the second pressure receiving portion contacts the coil spring and receives a downward urging force of the coil spring. 
 
     
     
       5. The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the through hole has a tapered wall surface that widens toward an upper end of the tapered wall surface, and the resin member has a tapered outer side surface that widens toward an upper end of the resin member, and wherein the wall surface of the through hole contacts the outer side surface of the resin member.